A broader role for EURL ECVAM, the EU Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Testing

Yesterday 7 February 2013 the European Commission Joint Research Centre
participated in an event organised in Strasbourg by the European
Parliament Intergroup on the welfare and conservation of animals, focused on
the Directive
on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes (whose provisions
apply as from 1st January 2013). Fifteen MEPs were present as well representatives of industry and NGOs, who generated an informed debate.

Professor Maurice Whelan (JRC-IHCP, Head of
Systems Toxicology Unit and EURL ECVAM) made a presentation about the role of
the JRC-hosted European
Union Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EURL ECVAM)
and its broader mandate foreseen by the directive. Going well beyond the
formal validation of methods, EURL ECVAM will now also engage proactively in
providing guidance to method developers, facilitating the regulatory acceptance
of new methods and their uptake by end-users.
Whelan underlined the importance of an early engagement with regulatory bodies
from the Member States, with regulatory agencies and with stakeholders to
ensure a collective involvement in the entire validation process and in the
formulation of EURL ECVAM Recommendations.
In the context of EURL ECVAM's commitment to international cooperation, Whelan
highlighted current engagement with the European Partnership for Alternative
Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA), the International Cooperation on
Alternative Methods (ICATM), and with a number of US agencies involved in the
"Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century" (Tox21) initiative.
As part of the effort to inform policy makers about scientific progress
relevant to the implementation of European Directives and Regulations that
embrace the 3Rs (Reduction, Refinement, Replacement) principles, he drew
attention to SEURAT-1 (Safety Evaluation Ultimately Replacing Animal Testing –
Phase 1), a large research cluster co-financed in a public-private partnership
by the European Commission (DG RTD through FP7) and Cosmetics Europe (the
European trade association for personal care products) with a budget of 50
MEuro. The activities and results are captured in a series of annual
"books" entitled "Towards the replacement of in vivo
repeated dose systemic toxicity testing", which are written with a broader
readership in mind.
Whelan mentioned that EURL ECVAM is currently working on a JRC Report to
describe progress since 2011 in the development, validation and acceptance of
alternative methods.He communicated that his Unit/IHCP was recently awarded the first
international science prize for alternatives to animal testing, sponsored by
the cosmetics company LUSH. The prize was administered by an independent NGO
consumer organisation and judged by an independent international scientific
committee comprising recognised experts in the field; the prize money will be
used to further work in the area.
Whelan concluded his talk by expressing his hope and expectation that the JRC
and EURL ECVAM will have a strong role to play within Horizon2020, acting as a
hub for translating scientific results into 3R solutions.